"I Sweat Through My Scalp": Exercise & Black Hair Care - BlackDoctor.org

Tell us if this sounds familiar:

"I want to become more active, but I just don't know about all that sweating! What would I do with my hair? I sweat through my scalp! ...My edges!"

Our hair is our crown and glory. We can't help it.

We've been programmed to believe that the style and care of our hair represent our level of success and well-being. We go through hoops and bounds and invest a lot of money into our hair care and there's nothing wrong with that!

It only becomes a problem when it inhibits us from getting the recommended amount of exercise to improve our overall health, and a recent study has found most health care providers don't even realize it's a factor.

Researchers surveyed doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the department of family medicine at Ohio State University, and found that 95% of them sometimes/often discuss exercise with black female patients.

However, 76% of them have never included hair care in an exercise discussion and only 34% said they were comfortable discussing hair care in that context, the findings showed.

"As physicians, if we don't have those specific conversations, we're not doing everything that we can to decrease this barrier and help African-American women overcome what they feel is holding them back from exercise," said study leader Dr. Sophia Tolliver. She is a family medicine physician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, in Columbus.

The study was published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

The study findings show the need to include this topic in medical education curriculums to potentially have a lasting impact on the long-term health of black women.

About 56% of black women aged 20 and older are obese, putting them at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Regular exercise can help reduce these health risks.

"It's going to come down to increasing education about African-American hair, African-American females' cultural practices when it comes to hair, and how you can counsel a patient in an office visit about decreasing that barrier," Tolliver said in a university news release.

She offered the following advice for black women who want to be physically active:

-If you're new to exercise, consider starting with low-impact exercise, such as walking, to minimize perspiration.
-Try a protective hairstyle, such as braids, twists, buns or extensions.
-Schedule more strenuous workouts on a day you plan to wash your hair.

Please don't let your hair be the reason you don't meet your health goals this year. Follow the above tips and talk with both your health care provider and stylist to come up with a plan. You got this!

For more information on physical activity, check out The U.S. Office on Women's Health.

SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, Nov. 8, 2019

4 Easy Go-To Natural Hairstyles For Yoga

I’ll be the first to admit it, I hate getting my hair messed up from working out! It sucks. However, it’s inevitable. Thankfully more and more women are becoming more excepting of that fact and simply adjusting. We’ve seen a few black hair tutorials for prepping your hair for running and working out at the gym, but what about yoga?

As newbie yogi, I searched high and low for this, but no avail. Furthermore, it’s especially niche to find a tutorial on yoga hairstyles for 4C natural hair.

So, I made my own! Check out these super quick and easy hairstyles for my black yogi girls out there:

1. The Flat Double Twisted French

Always start with moisturized hair! If you’re not too sure on how to do this, check out this video here.

You’re simply using the four things natural hair loves, water, leave-in conditioner, oils, and shea butter. Massage these four things in the hair in this order 2-3 times a week, and your kinks will love you!

To achieve my Flat Double Twisted French, part the hair down the middle, section the hair into two then flat twist each side down until you get to the end.

Then, pin the two flat twists up with a bobby pin so that your ends are tucked away.

This style is most ideal for yoga, as you’ll have many times that you will be laying down flat on your back and may even do a headstand during your yoga practice.

2. The High Loose Bun

Yoga is all about movement and breath. When styling your hair try to take notice of the organic ways your hair naturally flows.

Something like my High Loose Bun is perfect for yoga. Add your favorite scarf for added style and move freely throughout your sequences.

3. The Single Flat Twist Bun

I love a cute workout hairstyle that can take me into the office as well. Achieve this style by sectioning off the front of your hair with a side part that flows into a shape of an “L”. Then put the back of your hair into a bun by twisting your hair around the base of the bun and secure with a bobby pin.

Next, loosely flat twist your hair to the side, all the way to the ends. Take the end of the twist and wrap it around the bun, then secure it with a bobby pin. Voila!